In Uganda, accidents with Boda Bodas, or Motorbike Taxis, happen every day. I’ve witnessed several of these incidents and have even been part of a few that sent me to the hospital. After spending two years in Uganda, including getting marriaged to an Ugandan woman, I’ve figured out how to ride Boda Bodas more safely than I did when I first got here in 2018.
Riding Boda Bodas can be quite dangerous because of the traffic in Uganda, and many Western travel companies advise against using them. Still, they are hard to avoid. They are affordable and much faster than other transport options, plus they can be a lot of fun! The drivers are good at maneuvering through traffic, so while a car ride might take hours during rush hour, a Boda ride can take just 20 minutes. There are plenty of reasons to use a Boda. But is it really worth the risk? Considering the dangers of riding during the day and the added risks at night, you need to be careful to stay safe and avoid scams. In the end, it’s your decision. For me, Boda Bodas are my go-to for getting around Uganda for shorter trips that take less than an hour.
After I got robbed on a Boda and had two accidents in 2018, I started being more careful. Plus, now being married to someone from Uganda has really taught me a lot.
Here’s my advice of taking Boda Boda
- If you don’t know any drivers personally, you should use the drivers on a Boda stage. These drivers tend to be licensed more often, compared to the drivers driving around picking up people.
- Always negotiate a price beforehand.
- Make sure that the driver knows exactly where you are going. If a driver is too quick to say he knows the place you’re going without you explaining him proper, he may try to scam you by either robbing you or taking a higher price than the negotiated.
- If you don’t know the driver, tell the driver to drive careful.
- If the Boda driver asks for a very small price, it may be a scam – or if lucky maybe he is just going the same way. In other words, be careful.
- Take Boda drivers that you know and trust. If you take a new Boda driver who is driving safely, you can also get his number so that you can call him, whenever you need a Boda.
- Have you bag on your stomach while using Boda. There is a lot of thieves in and around highly trafficed roads, and your bag might get snatched if you’re not careful
- Never use your phone while using Bodas. It might get snatched.
- Always negotiate the price, unless if you know he is asking for the right price. I have had cases where boda drivers have asked for 10 times the normal price.
- The law says that you are only allowed to sit one passenger on the boda. Yet many places, mostly outside Kampala, drivers tend to allow two or more people.
- A lot of accidents happens when the passenger is getting scared and is trying to jump off, resulting in the Boda crashing. If you feel scared, do not move, the Boda driver will have a much easier time avoiding an accident when there’s somebody on the back not moving.
- Never pay beforehand. Always pay after your trip.
Other Precautions that you can take
- Use Uber or the SafeBoda app, especially during night.
- Take a screenshot of the license plate and send it to your friend.
Tips of being a good passenger
People who drive and work in service profession deserve to be treated well, just like you would want to be treated. I’ve worked in service before, and I noticed that many people didn’t appreciate us. If a Boda driver is being friendly, you should always be kind back. Here’s some tips to be a kind passenger.
- Once the Boda is driving, do not move. It is very hard to drive a bike with a person on the back, moving.
- Make sure that the Boda driver knows before you get on his Boda.
- Give directions ahead of time, instead of the same second, as you have to do a turn.
- Do not underpay. That being said, do not overpay either. Try to figure the normal price of going from one place to the other, and stick with that price. It is always okay to say no to a boda, so that you can take the next.
I’ve been really frustrated with Boda drivers trying to charge me way too much, something that will happen a lot. The best way to handle it is to offer a much lower price, a price that is way too low. Keep negotiating until you both agree on a price that works for both. If the driver seems honest and is just asking for a little extra from his first offer, always be nice and negotiate without going too low with your first counter offer. It is considered rude.
Alternatives to using a Boda.
There are many ways to travel around. One common choice is taking a taxi. Taxis are like mini-vans that follow certain routes. You can find plenty of them on busy streets, and they are easy to spot. Taxis are usually much cheaper than taking a Boda, but they take a much longer. If it’s really hot outside, you might feel like you’re melting. A taxi can fit up to 12 people, so it can get pretty crowded inside.
On certain busy streets, there are sometimes bus services available that can give you a ride too. These buses have their own routes and are usually more comfortable than taking a taxi. However, one downside is that they wait until the bus is full of passengers before leaving, which can take a while. But the good thing is that it usually stays cooler than a taxi. The cost is about the same for the same distance, but bus may take longer than taxi due to having to wait for the passengers, and for it’s size which makes it harder to maneuver in-and-out of traffic.
Another choice is to use Uber for a ride. It’s a normal car that can drive you from one place to another. This option is by far the safest compared to the other options, but it tends to cost more money. It might take longer than a Boda, but it is faster than a mini van taxi since those stop frequently to pick up and drop off people.
You could also try what I do (sometimes only!), which is to stand by the road with my thumbs up and hope someone will give me a ride. I’ve done it a few times just for fun. Just take a look at this…
Conclusion
Riding a Boda is something you do at your own risk. The tips I’ve shared can make you a bit safer, but there’s no way to be completely safe when using Bodas.